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Cheap_Coffee t1_j7vl4jy wrote

My docs are in Concord so my recommendations wouldn't help you.

However, I've had good luck with NPs; they tend to be focused on health care whereas some doctors may be influenced by cost control/profitability concerns.

Your mileage may vary, of course.

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xKimmothy t1_j7vle0f wrote

Is mass health accepted at Atrius health/Harvard Vanguard? If have great interactions with everyone there and if they are in network, usually their whole group will be in network.

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Popomatik t1_j7vqwms wrote

Good luck when I was on Ma Health I was treated like a second class citizen.

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movdqa t1_j7vs4c3 wrote

What the doctor can and can't do is generally dictated by your insurance company.

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xKimmothy t1_j7vv6ng wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,764,280)

Huh. I guess it depends on what office you go to and what doctor you see. I've been a patient for 5 years and have never had any issues with anyone I've seen there for standard care. Specialists have gotten dicey after covid though, and they lost all their dermatologists.

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joeltb t1_j7vvvs5 wrote

Functional doctors are not real doctors. They won't even take health insurance as payment cuz they are not legit: According to Wikipedia: Functional medicine is a form of alternative medicine that encompasses a number of unproven and disproven methods and treatments. Its proponents claim that it focuses on the "root causes" of diseases based on interactions between the environment and the gastrointestinal, endocrine, and immune systems to develop "individualized treatment plans." It has been described as pseudoscience, quackery, and at its essence a rebranding of complementary and alternative medicine.

They will just tell you that you have Cibo(sp?) and ask that you purchase their special mix of herbs to cure it cuz Antibiotics bad.

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illwillstill t1_j7vwqu5 wrote

Doctors are inundated with patients who need mental health and addiction support, refuse to get it, and instead want tests and surgeries. You may just need to prove that you are not in this category

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cmh413 t1_j7vxna9 wrote

Replying to illwillstill (#1,764,677)

I agree with this. They brighten up when they realize you’re not the all-knowing, self-diagnosing patient that makes up 85% of their time. It makes your life, and their job easier

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movdqa t1_j7vxutm wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,764,685)

It's hard to get in to see the good doctors as they're usually booked out months to longer, if they're even taking new patients. In good hospitals, you usually take whoever you can get.

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snerdaferda t1_j7vzebe wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,764,280)

As someone who works in healthcare, can I let you in on a little secret: people who love their doctor and generally have good relationships seldom leave positive reviews. It’s hard to find a physician above 3 stars, even some of the really patient, quality ones I work with, because people who are angry tend to leave reviews. Don’t worry about google reviews and things, meet providers and be honest (and importantly, willing to accept treatment plans while advocating for yourself which is a tough balance, I know), and give them a shot. Atrius is great.

I don’t know and don’t need to know what kind of health issues you’re having, but nothing makes a healthcare provider roll their eyes faster than a patient coming in demanding certain tests without any tact. Explain your symptoms and how it’s affecting your life, and ask them to help you solve the puzzle. Treating sniffles and non compliant patients can be boring, come in and be real with your provider and be part of your own treatment plan and you’ll find the majority want to work with you regardless of your insurance.

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joeltb t1_j7vzsem wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,764,265)

NP's are not anything like a functional medicine doctor. The later is fake. Nurse Practitioners work under a real doc and can even prescribe medicine. That's the only difference. Most doctors office have you see an LNP before a doctor and take health insurance.

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ohhgrrl t1_j7w0tt3 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,764,851)

You can get this from a PCP. Unfortunately you have to advocate HARD. I am seeing a resident at Boston Medical Center primary care who is sending me to any specialist I request. Does BMC take your insurance? DM me if you want her name.

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joeltb t1_j7w39f7 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,765,052)

You could be right, but normally NP is "Nurse Practitioner". Another protip, if any doctor refuses to do something you are requesting, ask them to note that in your record.(that they refused to do x,y,z test.)

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janesearljones t1_j7w3aco wrote

I left the state a couple years back but there’s a guy named Gronda in holliston that was still treating people like people.

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snerdaferda t1_j7w50p6 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,765,115)

I’m sorry that your health issues have been viewed that way, I know it can be frustrating especially if nobody seems to have the answer. It’s equal parts provider burn out and equal parts patients who don’t want to listen and try advice of providers and it makes for a difficult situation. Keep your head down, try providers until you find one you jive with, and be willing to give the treatment plans a real college try before deciding “they suck” or something like that. We all really do want to help, but unfortunately suffer from being human.

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leeann0923 t1_j7w62c8 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,764,851)

They don’t offer testing that is FDA approved so what you get from them ends up being a fake diagnosis, supported by non evidence based tests, and $300-400 for supplements that you don’t need, that make your urine expensive and you still feel like shit.

I worked in primary care and GI and all functional medicine practitioners are people who prey on people who don’t feel well. I had one patient who was taking, and I’m not being dramatic, 47! supplements a day for acid reflux. And guess what? She was significantly poorer and still had reflux.

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danmac1152 t1_j7waswo wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,764,707)

I got to Southern NH internal medicine and I see a doc named Amruth Jonnalagadda. Honestly awesome, nice, quiet, compassionate doc. Medical stuff has always been stressful for me and he’s really been great.

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Due-Studio-65 t1_j7wbmaa wrote

what is a functional doctor? Harvard Vanguard is always accepting patients somewhere.

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BethNotElizabeth t1_j7wcmin wrote

When I had masshealth I went to Manet Community Center (there’s 1 in North Quincy and one in Hough’s Neck) and they have a lab there (at least in NQ). I never had an issue with the doctors treating me less than, as you described

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LowkeyPony t1_j7wl11b wrote

I went through 4 pcp's before I got one that actually heard me when I spoke. Granted I think I piss him off sometimes by putting some stuff off, but I honestly have good reason. I now drive 2 hours one way to see him every 6 months or so. He's in Whitman. DM if you want his info

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Crack-is-whack-yo t1_j7wqqbs wrote

I have been going to Harvard Vanguard in Kenmore Square for many years and have never had a problem seeing someone. My pcp isn’t taking new patients, but the whole internal medicine department there is really great. I have seen Sarah Post, MD for sick visits and would choose her if my pcp retires. I believe she is taking new patients. Good luck!

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Maronita2020 t1_j7wu4dz wrote

I've had really good luck with BIDMC Boston. I'm on Mass Health and love my doc. I see Dr. Hans Kim (Kim is the LAST name)

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kerumeru t1_j7xqvjb wrote

You can order basic blood tests online directly from the labs if you are willing to pay cash. It will be a couple hundred bucks. You go to a lab, pay, they send you the results. You can get a telemedicine pcp interpret them for you. QuestDirect or LabCorp are a couple of names.

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